The Government of Manitoba announced yesterday that it will be investing nearly $3 million to enhance mental health and addiction education programs for children and youth.

The investment is part of the province’s comprehensive approach to improving mental health and addictions programming.

The announcement includes three new initiatives from the province, totalling an investment of $2.94 million over three years, which includes:

• $823,000 to the NorWest Youth Hub to increase mental health and addictions counselling, Indigenous cultural supports, primary health care, as well as recreation and training opportunities for youth aged 14 to 24;
• $621,000 to Project 11, which provides virtual and in-person lessons and activities designed to improve mental health awareness and positive coping strategies for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8;
• $1.5 million to expand the distribution of Thrival Kits to Grades 4 to 6 students across the province.

In Manitoba, 1 in 4 people aged 10 and older have a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder. 75 percent of mental health onsets happen before the age of 24.

The province invested $566 million last year towards mental health and addictions.

Over 100 mental health and addictions initiatives have been implemented across all governments since 2016.